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Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:13 am
by kevin1
Hello,
I finally decided to get the LTC….
Paperwork was submitted online on 6/20 and right now my background check is under review…..
So, what do you do while waiting for the plastic (besides logging twice a day in
https://txapps.texas.gov/txapp/txdps/chl/ 
)?
Well…This is what I’m doing:
Get the gun you would like to carry
I have a Glock 35, but I figured out it was too big to carry. I just got a Glock 26 with night sights.
Get a nice carry belt:
I got The Ultimate Concealed Carry Belt from Relentless Tactical.
Get a nice holster (wait time can be long):
I got the White Hat MicroTuck Hybrid IWB Holster with the following options
(Choose Your Leather: Black "Gator" Horsehide, Choose Kydex Color: Gonzales Flag, Gun Model: Glock 26, 27, 28, 33, Orientation Options: Right Handed, Choose Your Clips: Spring Steel Clips, Screw Finish Option: Black, Laser/Light Options: None, Extra Set of Clips: ---NONE---)
Practice:
Make sure you’re proficient with your carry gun and the self-defense ammo you’ll be carrying. Make sure it’s reliable.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:28 am
by MrMcCullster
Nice. I agree on all fronts, as I'm doing the same thing. (twiddling my thumbs). We even submitted our documents on the same day, so it will be interesting to see how our timelines play out.
I don't have my carry gun yet, but I've done enough research and figure I would be really happy with the 3 inch barrel 9mm Springfield XD Mod.2. I have a 4-inch XD, but after carrying that around (in the house) a Galco Summer Comfort, don't think it's a good idea to carry that big and bulky of a gun.
I got the AlienGear carry belt. It's identical to the Relentless Tactical one you posted about, but the Alien Gear belt has a steel core inside the belt. Love the look of both belts. Looked up the RT belt but they didn't mention a core. Gotta keep things looking casual. Any tactical instructors belt just sets off a red flag for me.
I went with a StealthGearUSA IWB Mini holster for the gun I don't have yet in OD Green. I'm committed now. Their wait times for holsters are almost as long as the LTC wait (45 days), but they handmake all of their holsters for the specific gun and carry option. I figured with it being Texas any sort of breathing and air flow would be a good thing in those 100 degree days of summer.
Need to get to the range and shoot off a few more rounds. I inherited my dad's .357 Colt Trooper Mark III revolver and my grandpa's S&W Model 10 .38 Special, but haven't had a chance to go shoot them.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:31 am
by lildave40
Add learning the Laws. Were can you carry were you cant carry. also think about an insurance.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:07 pm
by RPBrown
Carry around the house whenever you are there. This will get you comfortable with the added weight and concealment
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:20 pm
by Jusme
Welcome to the forum, and I agree with you everyone else regarding filling up your time. Also take some time to peruse the forum, there is a lot of good info here for those just getting their LTC. As well as some entertaining tidbits you may enjoy. Hope your wait is not too long. From some recent posts, it sounds like the DPS has shortened the wait time considerably since a few months ago.
Good luck and glad to have you aboard.

Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:55 pm
by Morbidrealities
RPBrown wrote:Carry around the house whenever you are there. This will get you comfortable with the added weight and concealment
I remember going through everything I owned to wear. Trying everything on to see if I stayed concealed. I found that anything with belt loops and a light tee-shirt was enough to conceal a Government sized 1911 with the proper holster/belt. Same with my Sig 227, which is super fat in the grip. Proper belt/holster combination is key to concealment.
Now I don't even try though. As long as my shirt is long enough to cover what OWB I'm wearing, I'm good. I've probably gotten too lazy about it.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:56 pm
by Daddio-on-patio
lildave40 wrote:Add learning the Laws. Were can you carry were you cant carry. also think about an insurance.
Something that I didn't think about was how my wife and kids would perceive carrying. Not that we are strangers to firearms, their use, and safe handling. But holstering up to go out in public still carries some uncertain stigma to it due to the social debate, I would suppose. It did not take long at all to become second nature for us all.
Enjoy the wait! We all did....
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Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:12 pm
by Morbidrealities
Daddio-on-patio wrote:lildave40 wrote:Add learning the Laws. Were can you carry were you cant carry. also think about an insurance.
Something that I didn't think about was how my wife and kids would perceive carrying. Not that we are strangers to firearms, their use, and safe handling. But holstering up to go out in public still carries some uncertain stigma to it due to the social debate, I would suppose. It did not take long at all to become second nature for us all.
Enjoy the wait! We all did....

My wife is usually holstered up before I am, lol. My oldest boy will pat my 1 or 3 to make sure I'm carrying.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:27 pm
by vjallen75
Practice drawing your (unloaded) firearm from your holster. Even though my wife thinks I'm crazy and I look stupid for doing it, the muscle memory will pay off in case something were to happen.
Also have fun at the range like most have said. Enjoy this forum, it will really help if you have questions. I can honestly say I would be lost without it.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 4:31 pm
by joe817
Just to add to the already excellent suggestions: when I was waiting for my CHL, I passed the wait time away by:
1. getting on this forum every day
2. go to the gun range 2-3 times/week
3. re-read the CHL law booklet
4. clean my gun after each time I went to the gun range(I love the smell of Hoppe's in the morning)
5. carry around the house & practice drawing 15 or 20/times per day
6. watch U-tube videos on all topics regarding concealed carry, drawing techniques, etc.
7. repeat steps 1-6 ad nauseum.

Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:40 pm
by grent247
Stay on the forums after you get your license. From what I've seen by getting on every day, there's really beneficial info that pops up on a daily basis. Enough so, that I'm planning on sticking around for the benefited free advice.
Good luck, and make yourself at home here.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 6:28 pm
by twomillenium
kevin1 wrote:Hello,
I finally decided to get the LTC….
Paperwork was submitted online on 6/20 and right now my background check is under review…..
So, what do you do while waiting for the plastic (besides logging twice a day in
https://txapps.texas.gov/txapp/txdps/chl/ 
)?
Well…This is what I’m doing:
Get the gun you would like to carry
I have a Glock 35, but I figured out it was too big to carry. I just got a Glock 26 with night sights.
Get a nice carry belt:
I got The Ultimate Concealed Carry Belt from Relentless Tactical.
Get a nice holster (wait time can be long):
I got the White Hat MicroTuck Hybrid IWB Holster with the following options
(Choose Your Leather: Black "Gator" Horsehide, Choose Kydex Color: Gonzales Flag, Gun Model: Glock 26, 27, 28, 33, Orientation Options: Right Handed, Choose Your Clips: Spring Steel Clips, Screw Finish Option: Black, Laser/Light Options: None, Extra Set of Clips: ---NONE---)
Practice:
Make sure you’re proficient with your carry gun and the self-defense ammo you’ll be carrying. Make sure it’s reliable.
Wait. Did you say you were only checking 2 times a day? I head a roooomur that they update every two hours!
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:06 pm
by bblhd672
I'd recommend buying the guns you want and all the magazines and ammo you can. There's a storm brewing.
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:17 pm
by Kevo
bblhd672 wrote:I'd recommend buying the guns you want and all the magazines and ammo you can. There's a storm brewing.
Amen.. grabbing up a bunch of 80% AR lowers too.. just incase
Re: Things to do while waiting
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 8:22 am
by kevin1
I just checked first thing in the morning and the status hasn’t change. The status updates every two hours…It reminds me of the TV series Lost where they had to push a button on a regular basis…
I got the Relentless Tactical simply because it had a 4.9 rating and 1k reviews on Amazon. It also has a lifetime warranty. I looked it up and the AlienGear carry belt looks awesome. It sure seems better than their holsters. I might get a black one from them.
As for holsters, I think StealthGear is simply the best. The reason I went with White Hat is because the bottom end of the kydex is open (I can put a variety of glocks using the same kydex) and you can order additional kydex for different guns. Also that black gator horsehide with the white Gonzales flag just looks dead gorgeous!
Regarding the insurance, during the class we were recommended to go with [Pre-paid legal service]. I definitely need to do some reading on the subject.